Misinformation can be dangerous. You can put yourself in unnecessary danger by believing something and not confirming it with the experts.

Mesothelioma and asbestos can easily fall into that category. The less informed you are about this hazardous natural mineral and the associated illnesses, the harder it can be for you to make decisions that benefit your health and well-being.

Fortunately, you’re in the right place if you want to have all the facts! Read on to learn about some of the most common mesothelioma misconceptions.

Myth: Anyone Can Get Mesothelioma

Yes and no. It’s complicated. While studies show that a small percentage of people have a genetic predisposition to the rare cancer known as mesothelioma, the majority of diagnoses are linked to asbestos exposure. In fact, asbestos exposure is the primary risk factor, accounting for up to 80% of all cases.

This cancer forms in your organ linings. When you inhale asbestos fibres, they can cause irritation and scarring, resulting in cell mutation and cancer.

Myth: Mesothelioma Is Lung Cancer

When you read that mesothelioma is a form of cancer involving the lungs, it’s easy to assume that it’s just lung cancer with a fancy name. However, pleural mesothelioma that affects the lungs isn’t a form of lung cancer. It simply involves the lining around the lungs.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type, accounting for up to 90% of all mesothelioma cancers. You can also be diagnosed with:

Pericardial mesothelioma - forms in the lining around the heart, accounting for less than 1% of all cases

Peritoneal mesothelioma – forms in the lining of the abdomen, accounting for 10-15% of all cases

Testicular mesothelioma – forms in the lining around the testicle, accounting for less than 1% of all cases  

Myth: Mesothelioma Is a Disease That Lies Dormant

Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses have long latency periods. Knowing it can take around 20-50 years to experience mesothelioma symptoms, you might assume the disease lies dormant in your body. However, that’s not the case.

Once you inhale the asbestos fibres, they embed themselves in the lining surrounding your organs. Over a period of many years, the fibres slowly start causing irritation and cell mutation. It can take several years for the cells to mutate enough to cause cancer.

Myth: Only People Exposed to Asbestos Get Mesothelioma

While it’s true that you’re more at risk if you’re directly exposed to asbestos, you won’t necessarily share the burden alone. There have been many recorded cases of people being diagnosed with mesothelioma after living with someone who worked with asbestos.

Here in New Zealand, we learned about Deanna Trevarthen, who died in 2016 at 45 years old. She was one of the youngest mesothelioma sufferers in New Zealand.

It’s believed that Deanna was exposed to asbestos through her father, who worked as an electrician. She would sometimes visit building sites with him where asbestos was present. Her father also hugged and played with Deanna while wearing his work clothes.

Secondhand exposure has also been studied in great detail overseas. One study found that more than half of women diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed through someone else. Just 19% had worked with asbestos themselves.

Myth: Doctors Can Remove Asbestos Fibres

Medical professionals are capable of doing some incredible things. We can 3D print body parts and swap old organs for new ones. But what we can’t yet do is remove asbestos fibres from the human body. There are no known cures once asbestos-related illnesses are diagnosed. The best way to avoid asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma is by avoiding asbestos exposure in the first place.

Myth: Only Old Men Get Mesothelioma

The latency period for mesothelioma does mean that older people are more likely to be diagnosed with it. The average age is between 51 and 72. That’s because it can be several decades before people with mesothelioma start experiencing symptoms.

Men are also more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma because asbestos was commonly used in male-dominated industries. However, that’s not to say that other people aren’t diagnosed with this illness. Women made up around 26% of all cases in 2019.

The youngest person diagnosed with mesothelioma was Macie Greening, a 14-year-old girl from the UK. She is just one of nine children to have this form of cancer. Macie developed peritoneal mesothelioma, leaving doctors baffled. Her parents are also unsure of any exposure event she may have had.

Macie was not a candidate for surgical tumor removal, and chemotherapy proved ineffective. Her medical team successfully enrolled her in a clinical trial, and subsequent scans showed her tumour was shrinking. As of 2018, she was still fighting the good fight.

Learn More About Mesothelioma From the Experts

When you don’t work with or encounter asbestos often, it’s only natural that you won’t have all the facts. Knowledge is power. Contact the expert team at Chemcare to learn more about asbestos, related illnesses, and how to keep yourself safe.